Casing compositions



nited States Patent CASING COMPOSITIONS Sidney W. Dean, In, 27 Washington Square N., New York, N.Y.

No Drawing. Filed Aug. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 835,175

6 Claims. (Cl. 131-144) This invention relates to compositions of matter which normally are subject to deterioration by reason of changes in their characterizing components. Particularly this invention involves the control of the characteristics of a casing composition by means of substances which act as vapor barrier agents.

In the processing of tobacco it is present practice to blend with the tobacco at a predetermined time prior to the final stages of manufacture certain agents which are designed to improve the qualities of the product. These agents comprise flavoring substances, such as licorice, sugars, vanillin, peppermint, and ginseng; aromatizing substances such as natural essential oils or other distillates or extracts of plant products, aromatic herbs, synthetic oils or menthol; and humectants such as glycerol, diethylene glycol, or sorbitol.

The aforesaid agents are conventionally supplied in the form of a premixed composition known as a casing mixture or a casing composition. It is convenient to ship the casing compositions in concentrated form; thereafter the manufacturer may dilute the concentrate with further suitable amounts of solvent, usually water or an aqueous alcohol solution, and thereafter apply this dilute solution, by dipping or spraying to the tobacco.

It is desirable that the casing composition both prior to and following its application to the tobacco should undergo as little change as possible. The flavors and aromatics, particularly contribute to the tobacco those ultimate qualities which render it pleasing to the consumer, and which are characteristic of the product. At the same time, these components are highly susceptible to volatilization, to oxidation, and to hydration when in contact with atmospheric air. Hitherto, control of these qualities has been effected by preventing, insofar as possible, the access of air both to the casing compositions as such and to the manufactured tobacco articles bywrappings and containers designed to physically exclude atmospheric air. This method is not thoroughly satisfactory inasmuch as access to the packaged casing compositions and to the treated tobacco articles, cannot be eifected without a certain degree of exposure of the packaged contents.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for stabilizing compositions of matter against the deteriorative influence of the atmosphere in a manner that is not dependent upon the physical sealing of the compositions and is not subject to the aforesaid drawbacks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means of rendering casing compositions and tobacco containing volatile substances comparatively impervious to evaporative changes.

It is a further object of the invention to protect casing compositions and tobacco containing oxygen and/or moisture-sensitive substances, by incorporating in said compositions and in tobaccos treated therewith, agents which will act as barriers against the contact and interaction with said substances, of atmospheric oxygen and moisture.

In accordance with the present invention, I have found that if, to a casing composition, there is added a vapor barrier agent in the nature of a silicone, that this agent effectively stabilizes the composition. This agent operates as a barrier between the components of the composition and the surrounding atmosphere. This eifect is inhibitory with respect to the tendency of the elements of the composition to volatilize and escape, and further, reduces the likelihood of reaction of said components with the oxygen and moisture therein present.

This two-fold inhibitory action of the vapor barrier agent is effective both in the casing composition as such, and in the tobacco impregnated therewith.

The features and novelties which characterize the present invention are pointed outwith particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. However, for a better understanding of the invention and the manner of practice of the same, a preferred embodiment of the invention follows:

Parts Silicone fluids (2O centistokes of viscosity grade) 10 Glycerin 10 Apple syrup 10 Sorbitol 5 Molasses 5 Maple syrup 5 Rum 5 Brandy 2 Essential oils (various) 2 Fruit esters (various) 1 Vanilla l Licorice l Deers tongue 1 Cinnamon l Tonka bean 1 Ginger /2 Glucose Sucrose Ethyl alcohol by tobacco types Water In the foregoing formula which may be regarded as the building block of the silicone series, R represents an alkyl or aryl organic radical, which is frequently but not exclusively methyl or phenyl. A complete description of the silicones may be found in numerous publications. See, for instance, McGregor, Silicones and Their Uses, 1954.

The silicones are commercially available, in various viscosities. For purposes of the present invention the socalled Dow Corning 200 Fluids or the products available from the General Electric Company, are suitable. To assist in forming a homogenous composition dispersing agents may be incorporated, or the silicone may be obtained in prepared commercially available water-dispersible form.

By the term casing compositions, I refer to a class of compositions, likewise well known. As hereinabove set forth these compositions comprise flavor and aroma improving agents, mostly of a volatile and easily modified nature, and particularly because they are characteristically sensible in very minute quantities and in the vapor state, are especially susceptible to loss by vaporization and are sensitive to staling eflects by exposure to air.

By the term tobacco as herein used there is understood that class of products generally so designated, namely the leaf or other portions of the tobacco plant of foreign or domestic growth which may or may not have been subjected to the curing, blending, and other manufacturing procedures normal in the production of cigarettes, cigars, smoking or chewing tobacco, or snuff. I also include within this term those tobacco preparations known as reconstituted tobaccos.

The tobacco, having been processed in the conventional way, may be commingled with a silicone-bearing casing composition. A convenient method is to apply the composition in the form of a spray to the tobacco following the normal shredding operation, thereafter permitting the thus treated tobacco to stand for a period of twenty to thirty hours. The impregnated tobacco, it intended for cigarette manufacture may then be wrapped in paper in the form of a long roll which then is cut to the desired individual cigarette lengths.

Having by the foregoing description made clear the nature and advantages and method of practice of the present invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing flavoring substances, volatile aromatizing substances and a humectant, and having intimately intermixed therewith, as a stabilizer for said casing composition, a silicone.

2. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing flavoring substances, and volatile aromatizing essential oils, and having intimately intermixed therewith, as a stabilizer for said casing composition, a minor amount of a silicone.

3. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing flavoring substances, and volatile aromatizing essential oils, and having intimately intermixed therewith, a silicone,"the amount of said silicone being suflicient to act as a vapor barrier, and retard volatilization of said volatile substances.

4. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing a flavoring substance selected from the class consisting of licorice, sugar, vanilla, peppermint, and ginseng, volatile aromatizing essential oils, and having intimately intermixed therewith, a silicone.

5. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing flavoring substances, volatile aromatizing substances, and a humectant selected from the class consisting of glycerol, diethylene glycol and sorbitol, and having intimately intermixed therewith, a silicone.

6. A liquid casing composition for tobacco, said composition containing flavoring substances, volatile aromatizing substances, and a diluent selected from the class consisting of ethyl alcohol and water, and having intimately intermixed therewith, as a stabilizer for said casing composition, a silicone.

References Cited in the fiIe of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,866 Rocker June 5, 1934 2,172,357 Brown -a- Sept. 12, 1939 2,386,466 Hyde Oct. 9, 1945 2,512,192 Yen et a1. June 20, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 2 2,192 Great Britain 1896 650,131 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Food Engineering, February 1956, pages 52-54. 

1. A LIQUID CASING COMPOSITION FOR TOBACCO, SAID COMPOSITION CONTAINING FLAVORING SUBSTANCES, VOLATILE AROMATIZING SUBSTANCES AND A HUMECTANT, AND HAVING INTIMATELY INTERMIXED THEREWITH, AS A STABILIZER FOR SAID CASING COMPOSITION, A SILICONE. 